If I could investigate any problem in the social world...

... and would be "absolutely guaranteed" I would not fail (p. 21). [I am doing an exercise in a book now.]

I would like to investigate the challenges of setting up a political party and why do people do that? And why do people join these political parties? Why do they join one, rather than the other? Why are the challenges of running an election campaign and contesting in one? Is the lack of resources really an issue personally? What are the backgrounds of these people who join political parties? Are they mostly from the less privileged in society? Is there really no way to strategize, such that the opposition parties can still find a way to compete, despite the uneven playing field? What keeps them trying again and again, election after election, despite the odds stacked against them? For those who only join for a period of time, what made them join and leave? Where are they now? What do these people really hope to achieve? What can of Singapore do they envision we can be? And how to make that transition?

I would like to investigate why do people leave churches, or change churches? Is it merely because God asked them to? Or is it a complex array of factors - discontentment with church, fighting among members or with leaders, disagreement with core values, or loss of faith? And if God asked them to, what are the reasons God asked someone to leave a church they were loyal to? Is it to try and start something new? Is it because the former church is no good? What kind of reasons does God give for asking a person to change his community? And what are these people feeling? Do they still keep in touch with their old friends and family? Or is it a complete disconnect? How do they feel about their experience in the former church? Do they hold grudges against anyone?

I would like to investigate how employers employ their employees in a variety of sectors and make comparisons. For example, I would like to sit into offices and see how HR personnel deal with resumes, soft copy and hard. I want to see if they read cover letters and analyze them? Do they care whether an applicant is referred by someone credible or a cold case? I want to sit into interviews with the decision makers. I want to see the questions asked by the bosses. After the interview, I want to interview both the decision makers and the applicants. I will ask the decision makers: How do you rate this applicant. Do you think he's suitable candidate for your job? Did you expect him to ask more questions? I will ask the applicants: How do you rate the interview. What did you think your chances are for this interview? I will do many sets of this, then I will compare... I will see how accurate is the decision maker and applicants account. I also want to follow through with both the applicant and employer. I want to find out how the employer eventually selects an employee. I want to know how the job seeker goes on his search and other interviews and if he received many offers, which does he eventually choose? How hard is it to find a job in Singapore? Is it easier if you're confident and brilliant? Is it harder if you're shy, introverted and nervous? If so, how can I have conclusions that can encourage employers not to be so judgmental towards shy-types?

Yes... I guess if I had a free rein in my research, I may pursue one of these three strains of research.

Luker, K. (2010) Salsa dancing into the social sciences: Research in an age of info-glut. Cambridge: Harvard University Press